One minute they could be flea-treating, castrating or worming an owner's beloved pet, the next they could be operating on internal injuries, fixing fractures, removing spleens or tumours, conducting open chest or orthopaedic surgery, or carrying out a Caesarean section with all the drama of a human hospital.
Pets 'n' Vets Group Ltd is a young company co-directed and owned by Dr Ngaire Mace, of Queenstown, and Dr Gabrielle Thompson, of Ashburton.
It was established in January by merging Ashburton-based clinic Pets 'n' Vets, owned by Dr Thompson, with Advanced Pets, in Cromwell, and Advanced Vets & Pets, in Queenstown, both owned by Dr Mace and Dr Richard Bishop.
"When we formed the company, Gabrielle and I sat down one evening and realised we had the same vision for what we wanted to achieve with our own clinics," Dr Mace said.
"Basically, that was a concept of total care for all pets and we wanted to provide all people with the ability to not only purchase pets, but also educate them in how to look after their pets in sickness and in health."
Today, the group boasts veterinary practices in Queenstown, Cromwell, Ferrymead in Christchurch, and Mosgiel, and has a clinic and head office in Ashburton.
It has 38 staff, who work to the same protocols and procedures, and share knowledge via the Intranet, which instantly transmits everything from memos, appointment details and consulting advice to blood test and X-ray results.
Each clinic has a manager, two qualified veterinarian surgeons, two qualified nurses, and support staff, including trainee nurses. All have front-of-house responsibilities as part of their role.
The majority were from New Zealand and four were from the United Kingdom.
Dr Mace, originally of Auckland, brought her experience of UK, Hong Kong and Chinese practices back to New Zealand in 2003.
She trained at the Royal Veterinary College, in London, between 1990 and 1995, then taught at the University of London before working in specialist clinics for nine years overseas.
Dr Mace said there was a severe shortage of veterinarians in New Zealand and only one veterinary school in the country.
To ensure a constant flow of vets throughout their clinics, the group intended to launch a fully fledged graduate training programme in 2009, she said.
"We're hoping for one or two graduates this year after two last year. We approach Massey University and it's a matter of finding the right people. We employ people based on their attitude and personality and how they perform under pressure, rather than the letters after their name."
The Queenstown clinic, on Gorge Rd, is to be expanded next year, with the aim of bringing all the facilities under one roof.
The proposed 360sq m practice is expected to be completed within 12 months, depending on the resource consent process, and will feature upgraded surgical and consultancy services, an extensive range of small animal retail products, a boarding cattery, grooming, nutritional specialists, a puppy school and even a podgy pets club.
Dr Mace said Queenstown was growing and Pets 'n' Vets needed to grow with it.
"There's certainly a demand for pet care here, but there's the demand for total pet care and educating the public, and not just being the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.
"People these days expect a much higher level of service of all-round care. We've got to be able to provide what people want."
